Wis.-Milwaukee 55, Detroit 53

1/5/2008 9:55 PM

MILWAUKEE (AP)-Paige Paulsen hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the game to cap a 14-point second-half comeback and give Wisconsin-Milwaukee a 55-53 Horizon League victory over Detroit Saturday night.

The Panthers (7-7, 2-2) won their fourth straight game, marking their longest winning skein since the end of the 2005-2006 regular season before advancing to the NCAA tournament.

The Titans (4-10, 0-4) lost their eighth straight game, the longest losing streak Coach Perry Watson has endured in 15 seasons at Detroit. Jon Goode scored 25 points and Chris Hayes 11 for the Titans.

Paulsen scored 17 points, Deion James 13 and Ricky Franklin 10 for the Panthers.

The Titans outscored the Panthers 14-2 midway through the second period to take a 48-34 lead. Goode finished the run with a pair of free throws with 6:43 left to play.

But the Panthers finally got their offense going behind Deonte Roberts, who had all 9 of his points the rest of the way. Milwaukee pulled to within a point at 53-52 on a free throw by Roberts with 44.5 seconds left but he missed the second, which would have tied the game.

Paulsen then hit the game-winner with two seconds left.

Detroit led 27-24 after one half, but the game was tied at 18-18, the game's fifth tie, earlier after Paulsen sank a pair of free throws. The Titan's Zach Everingham hit a jumper with 5:17 remaining and Goode followed with a 3-pointer to put Detroit up 23-18.

Milwaukee's winning streak has been accomplished in the absence of four players. On Dec. 18 Coach Rob Jeter cut leading scorer Torre Johnson (17.8 points) after he was charged with battery for hitting a female student and reserve guard Roman Gentry left the team for personal reasons. Jeter has also not allowed freshmen Tim Flowers and Kevin Johnson of Chicago Simeon to suit up for the games because they have not been practicing to his satisfaction.